Trousers pressing apparatus



' D. P. WILLIAMS TROUSERS PRESSING APPARATUS Nov. 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1956 l I" INVENTOR J7 flaw fill/m9 72 57 54\ Mimi ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1958 P. WILLIAMS 2,859,545

TROUSERS PRESSING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1956 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,859,545 TROUSERS ranssnvc APPARATUS Douglas P. Williams, Roanoke Rapids, N. C.

Application June 5, 1956, Serial No. 589,447

6 Claims. (Cl. 3820) The present invention relates in general to garment pressing machinery, and more particularly to machines for pressing trousers.

Pressing of bifurcated garments such as trousers, and the like, with conventional steam pressing machinery requires many separate lays due to the substantial departure, of trouser construction from simple tubular garment construction. For this reason, the time required to machine press trousers is much greater than that involved in machine pressing simple tubular garments and the operating expenses of the pressing establishment attributable to pressing such garments are accordingly higher.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a machine for. conveniently pressing trousers and the like in one lay.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of machinery for pressing trousers wherein oppositely extending bucks or bed units and the associated pressing heads are provided for simultaneously pressing the leg portions of trousers and means are associated therewith for pressing the trunk portion and the trouser K ent invention will become apparent from the followingdetail description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein only one preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a trouser pressing machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine, as viewed from the right hand side of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1, with the buck head raised to open position.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the trouser pressing machine of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference character 10, incorporates certain components of existing steam garment pressing machinery including particularly the standard or base 11 having an upstanding rear arm 12 and the bifurcated head supporting arms 13, 14 pivoted at 15 to the upper end of the rear arm 12 of such conventional units. It also includes the addition of a number of parts and mechanisms built around such conventional base 11 to produce a trouser pressing machine which will press the entire garment in one lay.

A base housing 16 overlies the front of the lower portion of the base 11 and extends for substantially the full width of the trouser pressing machine 10. The base housing 16 includes a front wall having a taller front wall porr'ce tion 17 whose upper edge terminates in a horizontal plane disposed slightly above the level of the pivot 15 which lies wholly to one side of the transverse vertical medial plane of the machine and a shorter portion 18 whose upper edge terminates at a horizontal plane lying substantially below and parallel to the horizontal plane of the upper edge of the taller portion 17. A press table or platform 19 adapted to support garments to be pressed by the machine is rigidly supported in a horizontal plane overlying and in abutment with the upper edge of the shorter base housing portion 18.

A hollow bed supporting post 20 rises from the press table 19 to the plane of the upper edge of the taller base housing portion 17 and is positioned relative to the taller base housing 17 to space the inner wall 21 thereof and the inner wall 22 of the taller base housing portion 17 projecting above the press table 19 equally and in 0pposite directions from the vertical medial transverse axis of the machine 10. A pair of horizontal elongated bucks or ironing beds 23, 24 are rigidly supported by conventional supporting posts or framing members located within the base housing 16 and the bed supporting post 20 to dispose the bucks in a common horizontal plane at the upper edge of the taller base housing portion 17 and overlying and spaced vertically from the press table 19 with the two elongated bucks 23 and 24 in axial alignment with each other. The two horizontal bucks 23, 24 are each formed with slightly outwardly converging side edges 25 terminating in arcuate outer edges 26, and have adjacent inner angular edges 27 disposed near the vertical medial transverse axis of the machine, each comprising a pair of inwardly converging inner edge portions 28, 29 terminating in an apex 30 aligned substantially with the common longitudinal medial axis of the horizontal bucks 23, 24. The inner edge portions 28, 29 will be slightly convex to facilitate elimination of wrinkles from the garment. Depending from these angular inner edges 27 of the horizontal bucks 23 and 24 are buck flange portions 31 lying substantially in vertical alignment with the angular inner edges 27 of the horizontal bucks 23, 24. The angularly convergent pressing surfaces of the buck flange portion 31 will preferably be slightly convex.

The bucks 23, 24 conform to conventional construction practice in that they. are formed of a hollow perforated aluminum body covered with padding to permit egress of steam from the hollow chamber in the buck through the pad and ingress of air through the pad and into the hollow chamber of the buck to dry and cool the garment. The usual steam supply lines 32 extend into the hollow chamber of each buck and communicate with the usual coils extending through the hollow chambers of the bucks to heat the aluminum walls thereof, the admission of steam to the coils through the supply line 32 being controlled by a conventional valve actuated through a mechanical linkage schematicallyindicated at 33 by a steam control pedal 34 projecting forwardlyffr'om the base 11 of the machine. The condensate in the coils Within each buck is withdrawn through the usual drain conduit 35, and a vacuum conduit 36 controlled by a conventional valve actuated by a vacuum control pedal'37 projecting forwardly of the base 11 alongside thesteam control pedal 34 extends into the hollow chamber within each buck to evacuate tne' chamber and draw air through the garment, the buck bed, and the perforations in the walls of the buck body to dry and cool the garment. Since these features are conventional in steam garment pressing machinery and do not form a part of the invention herein claimed, the schematic indication .of these components in the drawings and the above description should sufl'ice for an adequate understanding thereof.

Associated with the aligned pair of bucks 23, 24 is a 7 single pressing head or buck head 38 which is rigidly fixed to the ends of the head supporting arms 13, 14 for movement from a position spaced above the bucks 23, 24 to a position underlying and in intimate contact with the upwardly facing surfaces of the bucks 23, 24. The downwardly facing surface of the buck head 38 is preferably concave to conform to the pressing surface of bucks 23, 24 which are convex, although this relationship may be reversed. The buck head 38 preferably corresponds in outline to the composite shape of the pair of bucks 23, 24 in top plan, except that a medial inset 39 extends inwardly from the front edge only of the buck head 38 and is formed with side edges 40 which converge toward the longitudinal medial axis of the buck head and are disposed in vertical alignment with the converging edges 28, 29 of the bucks 23, 24. I

The pivotal movement of the head supporting arms 13, 14 about the fixed pivot 15 is controlled by a toggle link mechanism of conventional design comprising a link 41 pivoted at its lower end to the rear of the base 11 and at its upper end to the lower end of a link 42. The upperend of the link 42 is pivoted at 43 to a bell crank adjusting member 44 pivoted at 45 to the counterweight projecting portion 46 of the head supporting arms 13, 14, the upwardly projecting arm 47 of the bell crank member 44 being connected to a threaded adjusting screw 48 journalled for rotatable, non-axial movement, as indicated at 49, to the portions of the head supporting arms 13, 14 extending between the pivot point 15 and the head 38. A toggle link 50 is pivoted at one end to the link 41 a short distance below the upper end of the link 41 and at the other end to a link 51 whose forward end pivotally supports a vertically extending pedal strap 52 supported for sliding axial movement vertically at the front of the base 11 and having a forwardly projecting pedal 53 extending from the lower end thereof. A link 54 is also pivoted at the lower rear of the base 11 and to the lower end of the pedal supporting strap 52. A coil spring 55 extends between and is secured at its ends to the links 51 and 42 to resiliently urge the forward and upper ends respectively of these links toward each other and bias the buck head 38 to return to open position spaced above the bucks 23, 24. An adjustable stop 56 is supported on the base 11 in a position to abut the upper edge of the link 51 when the juncture between the link 51 and the toggle link 50 passes slightly over center, that is, when the links 51 and 50 are pivoted upwardly slightly beyond the point where their longitudinal axes coincide. In this latter position, the buck head 38 will be closed upon the bucks 23, 24 and the pedal 53 will be at its lowermost position, and the components will be retained in this position by virtue of the fact that the link 51 and toggle link 50 have passed slightly over center.

A buck head release pedal 57 is pivoted on a fixed shaft alongside the pedal 53 to be elevated into contact with the link 54 and elevate the link 54 to pivot the links 51 and 50 downwardly through their comon center, whereupon the spring 55 returns the head supporting arms 13, 14 and the buck head 38 to elevated open position.

A pair of padded pleating heads 60 are supported on arms 61, which are hinged at their upper ends, as indicated at 62, to a plate 63 having an upstanding lug 64 pivoted between the legs of a U-shaped bracket 65 fixed on a control lever 66 intermediate the ends of the lever. One end of the lever 66 is pivoted to a bracket 67 fixed to and projecting upwardly from the buck head 38 near the rearedge thereof and positioned so that the lever 66 lies in the medial vertical transverse plane of the buck head 38. A suitable spring 66' extends between the lever 66 and bracket 67 to urge the lever upwardly. The arms 61 are resiliently biased by springs 68 away from each other to urge the pleating heads 60 toward the flange buck portions 31 when the buck head 38 is in closed position. A chain 69 extends between the two pleater head supporting arms 61 to limit the divergent pivotal movement of these arms. Metallic pleater plates 70 are fixed on the ends of rods 71 having handle portions 72 on the opposite ends thereof, the rods 71 extending through and being frictionally held for axial adjustment in flanges 73 of adjustable supports 74 having additional flanges 75 frictionally engaging vertical posts 76 supported on the press table 19. By the adjustable pleater supports 74, the pleater plates 70 may be shifted along horizontal axes into and out of the opening 77 formed between the flange buck portions 31, and may be adjusted to various heights relative to the press table 19. The pleating heads 60 and pleater plates 70 preferably have slightly concave surfaces facing and conforming to the convex surfaces of the buck flanges 31.

A blower exit screen 78 is formed in the press table 19 immediately beneath the opening 77 and communicates with a blower conduit 79 into which air is directed by a suitable electrically driven fan 80.

In the use of the above described device, the trousers to be pressed are disposed in upside down condition with the forward portion of the trousers facing the front of the machine and therefore facing the operator. The trunk portion of the trousers from the crotch to the waistband are disposed in the opening 77 between the flange buck portions 31 and the legs are spread in opposite directions to lie upon the slightly upwardly convex surfaces of the bucks 23 and 24. The buck head 38, whose lower surface is concave to conform to the convex pressing surfaces of the bucks 23, 24 is then lowered intointimate contact with the bucks 23, 24 by pressing downwardly on the pedal 53. This action forces the forward end of the link 51 downwardly and elevates the junction of the link 51 and the toggle link 50 to shift the joined ends of the links 41, 42 rearwardly into approximate alignment and elevates the rearwardly projecting end of the'head supporting arms 13, 14. As the juncture between the link 51 and the toggle link 50 pass over center, the link 51 engages the stop 56, the buck head 38 is in completely closed position, and the disposition of the junction between the links 51 and 50 above the axisintersecting their opposite ends frictionally retains the linkage mechanism and the buck head in such position.

The trunk portion of the trousers is billowed open to urge the sides of the trousers against the surfaces of the buck flange portions 31 bythe air directed upwardly toward the trousers through the blower screen 78 from the blower 80; The pleater rods 71 must be adjusted to such a height, that at this stage of the operation, the lower horizontal edges 70A of the pleater plates 70 are above the level of the tacked ends or pockets of the pleatsin Although these tacked ends or trouser the trousers. pleat pockets are normally at the top of the pleats, they fall at the lower limits of the pleats when the trousers are in the inverted position which they occupy during the pressing operation. To form the pleats, the pleater rods 71 are projected axially toward the garment to project plate 70 between the sides of the trouser trunk portion and the adjacent buck flange portion 31 to a position wherein the edge 70B of each pleater plate 70 is located just inwardly (or to the right as viewed in Figure 3) of the exposed edge of each pleat fold. The rods 71 are then withdrawn outwardly (or to the left as viewed in Figure 3) to draw the edges 70B of the plates 70 into the pleats between the pleat and the body of-the trouser leg underlying the pleat, and are shifted downwardly along the posts'76 and outwardly toward the buck flange buck flange portions 31 serves to retain the folds, of the pleats adjacent the pleat pockets between the plates 70 and the buck flange portion 31 and the edges 70B of the plates 70 define the location of the hidden creases of the pleats. The pleater plates 70 eliminate pressing an imprint of the pleat into the body of the trousers underlying the pleat. A portion of the pleat folds spaced upwardly from the pleat pockets is rolled about the edge 70B of the plates 70 so that the front trouser creases which join the pleat folds may be formed in the portions of the trousers extending above the plates 70.

The arms 61 supporting the pleater heads 60 are then manually urged toward each other against the resilient bias of their springs 68 by drawing the handles 61 together, and the lever 66 is manually rotated downwardly to project the pleater heads 60 through the inset 39 and into the open areas '77. Upon release of the pleater handles 61, the pleater heads 60 will be resiliently urged in opposite directions by their springs 68 against the areas of the trouser trunk portion lying between the pleat fold and the trouser fly to press these areas of the trousers against the pleater plates 70 and buck flange portion 31.

The operator then steps on the pedal 34 to open'valve 33 and admit steam through the supply line 32 into the bucks 23, 24, and after a suitable period of time, after releasing the pedal 34, actuates the pedal 37 to open the vacuum line 36 to the bucks 2.3, 24 and draw air through the garment and into the bucks to dry and cool the garment. The operator then urges the pleater head handles 61 together, whereupon the spring 66' withdraws the rod 66 and pleater head assembly upwardly out of operative position, and steps upon the buck head release pedal 57 which pivots the projecting end 58 thereof forwardly to carry the link 54 upward. This upward movement of the link 54 communicated through the pedal strap 52 elevates the forward end of the link 51, breaking the junction between the link 51 and toggle link 50 downwardly and breaking the junction between the links 41 and 42 forwardly to shift the head supporting arms 13, 14 clockwise about their pivot 15 and open the pressing machine.

If desired, the buck head supporting arms 13, 14 and the pleater head supporting lever 66 may be actuated by compressed air controlled by valve controlling push buttons or other like actuating devices as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While only one preferred embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that other modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a garment pressing machine having a frame and a head support pivotally mounted on said frame, means for pressing trousers and the like in one lay, comprising a pair of elongated ironing bucks supported on said frame in longitudinal alignment with each other for receiving the legs of the trousers when the trouser legs are spread in opposite directions, the adjacent ends of said pair of ironing bucks being spaced from each other to define a downwardly extending space therebetween for the reception of the trunk portion of the trousers, buck portions depending from the adjacent ends of said ironing bucks forming pressing surfaces for the trouser trunk portion positioned to laterally flank the trouser trunk portion depending between said adjacent ends of said bucks, a pressing buck head mounted on said head support for movement with said head support from a position spaced above said pair of ironing bucks to a position overlying throughout and intimately contacting said pair of ironing bucks, and pleat pressing means coacting with said depending buck portions to press pleats into said trouser trunk portion.

2. A garment pressing machine for pressing trousers and the like in one lay comprising a frame, a head support pivotally mounted on said frame, a pair of elongated ironing bucks rigidly supported on said frame in horizontal alignment with each other with the common medial longitudinal axis of said bucks extending longitudinally of said frame and their adjacent ends spaced from each other, said pair of ironing bucks having coplanar horizontal pressing surfaces for receiving the legs of trousers arranged in oppositely extending relation from the juncture thereof with the trouser portion depending from the junction of the trouser legs into the downwardly extending space between the adjacent ends of said bucks, dependent flanges extending from said adjacent ends of said bucks forming buck surfaces positioned to laterally flank the trouser trunk portion depending between said adjacent ends of said bucks, a pressing buck head having a downwardly facing pressing surface conforming substantially to the composite outline of the coplanar pressing surfaces of said pair of ironing bucks, said pressing buck head being mounted on said head support for movement with said head support from a position spaced above said pair of ironing bucks to a position overlying and intimately contacting said pair of ironing bucks, pleat holding means for holding the pleat folds of the trousers against said dependent flanges of said bucks, and pleating head means for pressing the trouser trunk portion against said depending flanges to press pleats into said trouser trunk portion.

3. A garment pressing machine for pressing trousers and the like in one lay comprising a frame, a head support pivotally mounted on said frame, a pair of elongated ironing bucks rigidly supported on said frame in horizontal alignment with each other with the common medial longitudinal axis of said bucks extending longitudinally of said frame and their adjacent ends spaced from each other, said pair of ironing bucks having coplanar horizontal pressing surfaces for receiving the legs of trousers arranged in oppositely extending relation from the juncture thereof with the trouser trunk portion depending from the junction of the trouser legs into the downwardly extending space between the adjacent ends of said bucks, dependent flanges extending from-said adjacent ends of said bucks forming buck surfaces positioned to laterally flank the trouser trunk portion depending between said adjacent ends of said bucks, a pressing buck head having a downwardly facing pressing surface conforming substantially to the composite outline of the coplanar pressing surfaces of said pair of ironing bucks, said pressing buck head being mounted on said head support for movement with said head support from a position spaced above said pair of ironing bucks to a position overlying and intimately contacting said pair of ironing bucks, pleat holding plates having edges insertable into the pleats in the trunk portion of the trousers for holding the adjacent pleat folds against said depending buck surfaces, a pair of pleating heads adapted to press the trouser trunk portion disposed between said flanges in opposite directions against said flanges to press pleats into said trunk portion, means pivotally supporting said pleating heads for. movement toward and away from each other, and means for projecting said pair of pleating heads into and withdrawing the same from said space between said flanges.

4. A garment pressing machine for pressing trousers and the like in one lay comprising a frame, a head support pivotally mounted on said frame, a pair of elongated ironing bucks rigidly supported on said frame in horizontal alignment with each other with the common medial longitudinal axis of said bucks extending longitudinally of said frame and their adjacent ends spaced from each other, said pair of ironing bucks having coplanar horizontal pressing surfaces for receiving the legs of trousers arranged in oppositely extending relation from the juncture thereof with the trouser trunk portion depending from the junction of the trouser legs into the dowardly extending'space between the adjacent ends of said bucks, dependent flanges extending from said adjacent ends of said bucks forming buck surfaces positioned to laterally flank the trouser trunk portion depending between said adjacent ends of said bucks, a pressing buck head having a downwardly facing pressing surface conforming substantially to the composite outline of the coplanar pressing surfaces of said pair of ironing bucks, said pressing buck head being mounted onsaid head support for movement with said head support from a position spaced above said pair of ironing bucks to a position overlying and intimately contacting said pair of ironing bucks, pleat holding plates having edges insertable into the pleats in the trunk portion of the trousers for holding the adjacent pleat folds against said depending buck surfaces, a pair of oppositely facing pleating heads adapted to press the trouser trunk portion disposed between said flanges against said flanges to form pleats therein, a pair of supporting arms. for said pleating heads, a supporting member for said pair of pleating heads, means hingedly mounting the upper ends of said supporting arms on said supporting member for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal medial axis of said bucks, and a lever supporting said supporting member and pivotally mounted on said buck head to project said pleating heads into and withdraw the same from said space between said flanges when said buck head is-positioned immediately adjacent said bucks.

5. A garment pressing machine for pressing trousers and the like in one lay comprising a frame, a head support pivotally mounted on said frame, a pair of elongated ironing bucks rigidly supported on said frame in horizontal alignment with each other with the common medial longitudinal axis of said bucks extending longitudinally of said frame and their adjacent ends spaced from each other, said pair of ironing bucks having coplanar horizontal pressing surfaces for receiving the legs of trousers arranged in oppositely extending relation from the juncture thereof with the trouser trunk portion depending from the junction of the trouser legs into the downwardly extending space between the adjacent ends of said bucks, dependent flanges extending from said adjacent ends of said bucks forming buck surfaces positioned to laterally flank the trouser trunk portion depending between said adjacent ends of said bucks, a pressing buck head having a downwardly facing pressing surface conforming substantially to the composite outline of the coplanar pressing surfaces of said pair of ironing bucks, said pressing buck head being mounted on said head support for movement with said head support from a position spaced above said pair of ironing bucks to a position overlying and intimately contacting said pair of ironing bucks, pleat holding means adjustably supported on said frame for vertical movement and for horizontal movement relative to said bucks to be projected into said space between said flanges and having plates on the end thereof including a generally vertically extending edge on each plate facing the front of the machine, said plates being adapted to be disposed with said edges inserted between the pleat folds and the body of the trouser trunk portions, and pleating 8 head means for pressing pleat folds in said trouser trunk portion against said plates and said flanges to press pleats into said trouser trunk portion.

6. A garment pressing machine for pressing trousers and the like in one My comprising a frame, a head support pivotally mounted on said frame, a pair of elongated ironing bucks rigidly supported on said frame in horizontal alignment with each other with the common medial longitudinal axis of said bucks extending longitudinally of said frame and their adjacent ends spaced from each other, said pair of ironing bucks having coplanar horizontal pressing surfaces for receiving the legs of trousers arranged in oppositely extending relation from the juncture thereof with the trouser trunk portion depending from the junction of the trouser legs into the downwardly extending space between the adjacent ends of said bucks, dependent flanges extending from said adjacent ends of said bucks forming buck surfaces positioned to laterally flank the trouser trunk portion depending between said adjacent ends of said bucks, a pressing buck head having a downwardly facing pressing surface conforming substantially to the composite outline of the coplanar pressing surfaces of said pair of ironing bucks, said pressing buck head being mounted on said head support for movement with said head support from a position spaced above said pair of ironing bucks to a position overlying and intimately contacting said pair of ironing bucks, pleat holding means adjustably supported on said frame for vertical movement and for horizontal movement relative to said bucks to be projected into said space between said flanges and having plates on the end thereof including a generally vertically extending edge on each plate facing the front of the machine, said plates being adapted to be disposed with said edges inserted between the pleat folds and the body of the trouser trunk portion to hold a part of each of the pleats against said flanges and prevent pressing an imprint of the pleat fold on the body of the trouser trunk portion, a pair of oppositely facing pleating heads adapted to press pleat folds of the trouser trunk portion located between said flanges against said plate and said flanges to press pleats in said trouser trunk portion, a pair of supporting arms for said pleating heads, means pivotally supporting said pleating head supporting arms for movement in a plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal medial axis of said bucks, and means pivotally supported on said buck head for projecting said pair of pleating heads into and withdrawing the same from said space between said flanges.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,141,902 Palmer June 1, 1915 1,867,174 Reeps July 12, 1932 2,050,627 Patterson Aug. 11, 1936 2,529,899 Bayler Nov. 14, 1950 2,723,785 Moore Nov. 15 1955 

